"He doesn't know whether I'm talking to him or you."
"Of course he does."
Thunder.
Kapu reared straight up! Cassie's thighs tightened around him, her heart pounding. "We're here. Don't be afraid. We won't let anything happen to you."
He came down stiff-legged, the impact jarring. She closed her eyes, waiting for him to rear again or try to bolt.
He did neither. He stood there, trembling in every limb.
More thunder.
Miraculously, he stood still as they talked soothingly.
The first terror was over. She could feel the tears flowing down her cheeks. He was safe. Thank God.
The ship rode out the storm two hours later.
"Will you get down now?" Jared asked, pronouncing each word distinctly as the last thunder rolled into the distance.
"I don't know if I can," she said wearily. Every muscle was stiff and sore with the tension of the last hours.
Jared went around Kapu and lifted her off the stallion.
She held on to the horse's mane while she steadied herself. "Thank you," she whispered.
"You're a madwoman." His eyes were blazing down at her. "I'll be surprised if you live to be twenty. You should never have gotten on him."
"But then we wouldn't have been able to blindfold him." She patted Kapu before burying her face in his mane. "You're a great deal of trouble, boy."
"Not nearly as much as his mistress."
She ignored the pang the jab brought. "How did you know a blindfold would help?"
"When I was a boy, I had a horse who was terrified of storms," he said as he pushed her away from the horse. "He's worked up a sweat. Sit while I rub him down."
"I can do it."
He glanced at her ruin of a gray gown. "I wouldn't think of having you become more bedraggled. We've already discussed how enchanting I find that garment."
She didn't argue. She wasn't sure she had the strength to move. She dropped down on the hay and leaned back against the wall of the stall.
He took up a cloth and began to wipe Kapu's coat. "No reply?"
She roused herself to respond, "Why should I? I don't care what you think of my gowns, Your Grace, and Lani says it should bring me great satisfaction to use an enemy as a stable boy."
"Lani is a wise woman. But don't you think you should address me by my given name, considering the humble status you've given me?"
"Perhaps." She watched him move around the horse, his movements swift, precise, yet gentle. He was all lean, compact muscle and athletic grace. He might be performing a stable boy's duty, but there was no servility about him; barefoot, dark hair wild, he looked more the arrogant warrior caring for his battle steed. His shirt was totally open now, and she could see the triangle of dark hair that thatched his gleaming chest. She had touched that chest, felt the washboard muscles of his belly that had tightened beneath her hands and-
"Why are you staring at me?"
Her gaze flew up to his face and saw that his eyes were narrowed on her.
She glanced hurriedly downward, trying desperately to think of something to say. "Your feet are bare."
"I was in a hurry to get to you," he said slowly. "I regret if it offends you."
"No, it was good of you to-I didn't mean-" She was stuttering like an idiot, she realized with, annoyance. "Why would it offend me? I often go barefoot."
"And your feet aren't the only portions of your body you bare," he said with a distinct edge to his voice. "Though no one would guess it by looking at you in that shroud."
She kept her gaze fixed on his feet. "You won't have to look at me in it after tonight. It's beyond repair."
"Good."
Silence fell between them. The only sounds were the soft swish of the cloth on Kapu's back and the distant whisper of thunder.
"That should do it." He tossed the cloth aside and gave Kapu a final pat. The stallion whickered and pressed his face against Jared's bare chest. He laughed and pushed the horse away before he turned to face her. "Anything else?"
"What?"
His eyes were glittering recklessly, and she stiffened as he moved toward her.
"Are there any other services you require?" He dropped to his knees in front of her. "Lani said you should make use of me. Don't you always do as Lani says?"
"Most of the time." She moistened her lips. "She's usually right."
"Is she? Then use the enemy," he urged softly. He took her hand, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist. "As I intend to do."
She felt as if every stroke were sending little tingling ripples up her arm. Her throat tightened and she could scarcely breathe. He was so close she could smell the clean scent of him, feel the heat his body emitted.
"Let me go," she whispered.
"I'm not holding you." He smiled. "Not really. Not the way I want to hold you. Just this tiny touch on your wrist." His thumb leisurely moved up to her forearm. "And here…"
It was not true. He was holding her. She felt as if she were chained in place. The tingling was spreading to her shoulders and her breasts, and a strange languid heat was flowing through her.
He lifted her wrist until she could feel his breath on her skin with every low word. "You've seen what a good stable boy I am. Kapu enjoyed my wiping him down. Would you like me to do it to you?"
Her eyes widened in shock.
"First, I'd rid you of that nun's gown." He blew softly on the veins of her wrist. "Then I'd lay you on it so that the hay wouldn't mark your skin. You have such soft skin…"
She was shaking as if she had the fever. "No…"
"Would you rather feel the roughness?" His tongue gently touched her wrist. "Whatever you want. I'll give you whatever you want. Just give me what I want in return."
"You can't give me anything. It's not-" She broke off as a long shudder went through her. He was licking delicately, sensuously, at her wrist as if she were some rare, exotic tidbit.
I'd like to lick the salt from your breasts.
The memory of his words pounded through her mind as she felt his warm tongue on her skin. What was the matter with her? Why couldn't she move? It was as if he were weaving some magic spell about her. Kahuna. Beautiful, seductive Kahuna…
"Rough or gentle. You tell me." Dark plum color flushed his cheeks and his voice was thick. "Let me open your thighs and put my hands on you, in you. I'll make you feel things you've never known before. You'll like my touch as much as Kapu did. I promise you, Cassie. Just let me-"
"No." She meant the word to be firm, but it came out a weak, mere breath of sound. She was not weak, she told herself frantically. She could break this spell. She jerked her arm away and scooted back from him. "How could you think I would do that?" she asked unevenly. "I don't want any of this."
He reached out as if he would touch her again, and then his hand dropped. "Do you think I do?" His voice was suddenly harsh. "But it's here. It's real." He paused and tried to temper his tone. "So compromises must be made. I've grown used to compromises over the years. We can't always have what we want. You must have discovered that, living with your father and sweet Clara Kidman."
And he had lived a life of privilege and self-indulgence. What wealth had not provided he would have won by that seductive charm. "I don't think you've ever made a compromise," she told him.
"Then you'd be wrong." He smiled cynically. "I made one two minutes ago when I didn't throw you down in the straw and have my wicked way with you."
She inhaled sharply.
"Don't look like that. I don't want to force you. But, dammit, I'm not accustomed to celibacy, and I'm not going to be able to keep myself from-" He rose to his feet, his entire body charged with leashed frustration. "So you'd better learn to make a few compromises yourself. You were very close to letting me have you tonight. If you won't admit it to me, at least be honest with yourself."